the first borne of the Iewes that were by Gods appointment to be sanctified to the Lord Exod. 13.2 and are they which out of mankind are of God sanctâ—fied and put apart to an holy vse that is the seruice or worship of God the rest of mankind attending proâ—ane and worldly affaires Also Exod. 4.23 Psal 4.6 Matth. 22.5 Esa 49.15 because they of this Church or company are as dearely nay more dearely beloued of God then the first borne children are of their parents Fourthly this Church is said to be written in heauen because all of them are chosen and appointed to life eternall and their names written in the booke of life enioying or hereafter to enioy it in heauen Lastly he maketh mention of the spirits of iust and perfect men meaning the soules of the faithfull which are now in heauen Whereby wee learne that part of the Church is now in heauen and the other in earth and hereafter to be on earth both these making the Church This Church or company then containeth all Gods Elect that euer haue beene are and shall be in this world from the beginning thereof to the end Whereof part we see is in heauen triumphing as hauing got the victory ouer their enemies and praysing God and is therefore called the Church triumphant and part on earth hereafter on earth to be warring or fighting with their spirituall enemies the flesh the world and prince thereof the Diuel called therefore the Church militant This Paul teacheth likewise in the 3. to the Eph. saying I bow my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Vers 14.15 of whom is named the whole family in heauen and in earth By whole family he meaneth the whole Church one part whereof saith hee is in heauen with God the Lord Master of this Family magnifying him and namely for his goodnes towards theÌ„ the victory that by him they haue obtained Exod. 4.23 the glory honor and immortality he hath bestowed vpon them the other on earth for a time attoÌ„ding the busines he hath appointed them which is to worship him This the Apostle likewise teacheth Ephes 1.10 and in the first to the Coloss vers 20. In both which places he affirmeth that God hath reconciled to himselfe in Christ all things which are in heauen and which are in earth By the word Things hee meaneth Men as Reuel 21.27 where Iohn speaking of the new Ierusalem saith There shall enter into it no vncleane thing meaning no vncleane man or person By all things then both which words be vsed in eyther of these places the holy Ghost meaneth all the Elect for of these the Apostle speaketh in both places of which society part he telleth vs now three times is in heauen and the other in earth none in purgatory and that each part and euery member thereof is in and through Christ reconciled God and such only be the Elect. This whole company of the Elect is the Church which Ephes 1.22.23 proueth Christ is appointed the head to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things As the parts of a man soule and body make but a man not men and the seuerall parts of the body one body not diuers so the societies whereof I haue spoken in heauen and on earth make but one Church We doe not then beleeue two Churches not two Spouses of Christ but we beleeue only one yet considered diuers wayes One as shee is in the blade growing and to grow together with the tares in the field or in the flore mixed with chaffe another as shee is in the garner one in the mine and another purifiâ—d one yet wrapped in the confusion of this world and wicked men another before her Spouse without spot or wrinckle But leauing the triumphant Church which is in this pure and perfect estate we will now intreat of the Militant The militant Church is vniuersall or particular Ephes 4.13.16 Vniuersall are all those throughout the world who beleeuing in Christ are by the spirit vnited to him and by loue one vnto another In a word the whole company of the faithfull Hereof Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath ordained some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets c. And Ephes 4.11.12 where the very same in part is layd downe but in other words He therefore gaue some to bee Apostles and some Prophets c. for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ In stead of the word Church he first vseth Saints because the Church is nothing else but the Congregation of Saints Secondly The body of Christ meaning that part of his body which is on earth the whole being set for a part by a Synecdoche And of this is that to be vnderstood in the Creed I beleeue the holy Catholike Church A particular Church is the whole company of beleeuers that be in a Country Citie Towne or Village Such was the Church at Ierusalem Rome Corinth the Churches of Galatia c. as after in the ninth chapter of this Booke is proued Paul an Apostle 1. Cor. 1 2. Gal. 1.2 vnto the Church of God which is at Corinthus Paul vnto the Churches of Galatia And thus rightly we doe and may call all the faithfull in England in Scotland in France the Church of England the Church of Scotland the Church of God in France and all the true beleeuers be they more or lesse in Islington the Church of Islington Thus haue we many Churches and yet but one Church many particular Churches and yet but one Catholike or vniuersall Church 1. Pet. 2.9 To the Militant Church Peter speaketh saying But yee are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that yee should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darknesse into his maruailous light Where he speaking to the Elect and beleeuing Iewes telleth them that they need not to feare nor be dismaid at this that God hath ordained some to destruction whereof he had spoken in the two next verses before for as much as they were not of those or of that Generation whom God to glorifie his Iustice and to shew his anger against sinne hath appointed to condemnation but were of that Generation and stock which out of mankind God hath chosen and ordained to life euerlasting that so hee might declare the riches of his glory and mercy in sauing them Of this societie the beleeuing Iewes whom Peter speaketh were part And therefore it is that the Apostle vseth this particle but saying But yee are a chosen generation Those that Peter calleth heere the chosen Generation are the same which the Scripture often cals the Church and Diuines vsually the inuisible Church And it is that company of men which God out of all mankind hath chosen in Christ to giue or bestow vpon them eternall
in your schisme and errours and hearken to the counsell of Salomon Pro. 19.27 My sonne heare no more the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge Goe not I beseech you in the name of Iesus one step more forward in the way you are in For I call heauen and earth to record that it leades to destruction And why will ye die O ye children of men It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God for our God is a consuming fire I know you perswade your selues of better things and such as accoÌ„pany saluation You think that the way you now are in is the only way to life But what if you mistake it Christ telleth vs that many shall seeke to enter in at the straight gate Luk. 13.24 and shall not bee able Which cannot be vnderstood of men minding earthly things whether it be their profits or pleasures For they neither desire nor seeke after any such thing But of heretickes Schismatickes and sectaries You will say I know that you are no schismatickes because you separate from a false Church onely and ioyne to a true in deede if that which you teach of the visible Church were true then were all our congregations false Churches But heare and marke well what I say Such a visible Church as you require and pretend to be there is not in the world neither euer was You teach in this point that which is repugnant to the Scriptures and a thing vnpossible in it selfe to be Such a societie as you say a true visible Church is is not visible cannot possibly be seene or discerned But some of you will say are not our Ministers learned Yes That lets not but that both they may and indeede doe grossely erre in those things wherein they dissent from vs and from all the learned in the world Who knoweth not that among the Papists there be many of great learning and gifts which haue very great knowledge and skill in the arts in the languages are of excellent vtterance expert and ready in holy Scriptures can speake and write truely agreeing with the Scriptures of sundry of the secrets of the Kingdome of heauen as of God his nature persons attributes Of Christ Iesus his incarnation his birth life preachings sufferings comming to iudgement of the Resurrection of the life to come with many more of this kinde and yet notwithstanding in those points wherein they differ from the Church of England and all other true Churches they are blinde as beetles But you will obiect further that what you of the Separation hold is proued plentifully out of the word of God I acknowledge indeede that you abound and superabound in your allegations of Scripture Neuer any men contending for lyes did therein goe beyond you nor equall you neither If hereunto we adde their externall holinesse wee may safely say that in no faction or schisme that euer yet was in the world Satan did more transforme himselfe into an Angell of light then in this But what Their Scriptures being peruerted as the truth is and so tending to the destruction of the Reader all this is but sheepes clothing Mat 7.15 whereof Christ biddeth vs to beware Horrible and fearefull is your abusing and wresting of holy Scripture and to some incredible It had been well for you if you had been more sparing in your quotations then had yee lesse taken Gods Name in vaine who will not hold you guiltlesse for the same except ye repent And now dearely beloued behold Christ Iesus stands at the doore and knockes aloud tarrying and abiding there as one very desirous to come in and loth to be kept out He that hath the keyes of the house of Dauid who shutteth and no man openeth and openeth and no man shutteth open the doore of your soule that you may let Christ enter in And to that end open I humbly beseech you the eyes of your minde that you may bee able to discerne betweene things that differ and know truth from falsehood and reiecting and abhorring the one which is from the Diuell may imbrace the other which is from God And here my deare countrimen who lately are gone out from vs and become Anabaptists I beseech you consider of this one thing with me When you first separated from the Church of England did not you highly esteeme and reuerence the Church of Amsterdam euen as the deare spouse and body of Christ I meane the Brownists Church there Would not you then gladly haue had communion with them if possibly you could when you refused the same with vs Did not then all of you assure your owne soules that that way which then and still we call Brownisme was the onely way to life wherevpon in that way you would needs walke come on it what would imprisonment or banishment life or death Did not then some of the chiefe of you in my hearing magnifie M. Fr. Iohnson and their bookes specially the Apologie aboue all bookes next to the holy Bible And in all this you reioyced exceedingly How commeth it now to â—asse that so quickly not onely our Churches but the aforesaid Church at Amsterdam is likewise become an Harlot and Babylon That you abhorre now as much to haue religious communion with them as with vs How commeth this I say to passe but because that which the Apostle saith generally of all deceiuers is and must needs be in the particular true of you your selues being deceiuers That you wax worse and worse deceiuing and being more and more deceiued Thus haue I in few words by way of commination exhortation dehortation and supplication indeuoured to perswade you my brethren of the Separation speecially my countreymen who are lately entred into this way to renounce your errours and to breake off by repentance your grieuous sinne of separating and all the sinnes accompanying it If this I haue published preuaile not thus farre though not with all yet with some of you as to bring you to the sight and acknowledgement of your erronious doctrine concerning the visible Church and your peruerting of holy Scripture for confirmation thereof as my hope is it will I for my part doe confesse that I vtterly despayre of doing any good of you and say to you as I haue learned from the Apostle to speake in this case If any man be ignorant let him be ignorant I shall also hold it vaine to contend any further with you 1. Cor. 14.38 11.16 If any lust to be contentious saith Paul wee haue no such custome nor the Churches of God And so I end leauing the successe hereof both with you and others to the Lord whom in Iesus Christ I beseech to accept of this my poore and weake seruice and to grant that it may prosper to that end wherevnto by me his most vnworthy seruant it is intended euen to the glory of his great Name and edification of his Church Amen IOHN DAYRELL A
Cor. 2.11 and of some secret inward or hidden The Lord only knoweth who are his And no man knoweth the things of a man saue the spirit of a man which is in him 2. Tim. 2.19 By departing from iniquity and other infallible tokens a man may be certaine for himselfe that he is one of this Church in Christian charity also hee is to hope well of others and to iudge rashly of none but no man can be sure of the election of another This society then is visible and knowne to God alone inuisible and vnknowne to men and is therefore called the Inuisible Church Thus vnto the Church many sweet and glorious titles are euery where in the Scriptures giuen and most ioyfull and excellent things of it spoken It is called as we haue heard the City of God the celestial Ierusalem the Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen the family or houshold of God a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Priesthood being all Kings and Priests vnto God an holy Nation a peculiar people-redeemed and called by God out of darkenesse and the kingdome of darknesse into his marueilous light a spirituall house the Temple of God to be a Ephes 2.22 the habitation of God by the Spirit and the body of Christ It is also called a b 1. Cor. 14.33 Church of Saints c Iohn 10.27 the sheepe of the Lord d 1. Pet. 5.3 the heritage of God to bee short Christ his e Sal. Song 6.8 Doue his e Sal. Song 6.8 vndefiled who is f Ibid. 4.7 all faire and no spotte in her his g Ibid. 5.2 sister his g Ibid. 5.2 welbeloued h Ibid. 6.3 his loue his i Ibid. 5.1 Spouse his k Psal 45.9 Queene the ioy of the whole earth This Church is the Lords l Exod. 19.5 chiefe treasure aboue all people though all the earth be his and they in whom he delighteth as men doe in treasure Behold they are m Isa 49.16 grauen vpon the palme of his hand he that n Zachar. 2.8 toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye All of this society and onely these Iesus will o Matth. 1.21 saue from their sinnes and from the p Rom. 8.1 condemnation that is due vnto them for the same and q Iohn 10.27 will giue vnto them eternall life So that of all men these with Dauid may say r Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindfull of him And the sonne of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels and crowned him with glory and honor O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world To this Church are made the promises of Å¿ Reu 1.13 God his protection presence of peace t Ier. 31.3 of loue u Prou. 1.23 of his spirit and to this society is that gratious * Gen 17.7 couenant of life and saluation made In conclusion this Church though in it x 1. Cor. 13.11 infancie it be y Song 1.4 blacke yet is it comely as the Tents of Kedar and as the Curtaines of Salomon and when it commeth to z Ephes 4.13 perfect age it shall be most a Song 6.3 beautifull and b Ephes 5.27 glorious without spot or wrinkle yea most wonderfull and euen c Song 4.9 rauishing men to conceiue much more to behold what then to enioy so blessed a communion And thus much concerning the doctrine of the Church which we call Inuisible Let vs now proceed to the vse thereof CHAP. II. The vse of the former Doctrine Iohn 3.3 Rom. 8 9 If the flesh or sinne beare rule and be the Lord master of the house commanding soule and body then man is and to be called carnall of a sinner But if the spirit haue the dominion or rule as he hath in all those in whom he is though not at all times and in all actions the flesh sometimes preuailing against the spirit then and from thenceforth such are indeed Saints or spirituall men so to be called and ought not to deeme themselues sinners or wicked men nor so by others to be accounted Exod. 4 25 Matth. 26.41 BY this we haue heard we may see what a holy and heauenly society this is and that blessed is the man who is one of the Church holy righteous are they in this life but more holy righteous in the life to come When once the Spirit of God regenerateth and dwelleth in one of these which in the appointed season he doth in them all and only in them then ceaseth he to be prophane and beginneth to be holy and forthwith becommeth of a carnall a spirituall man and a Saint of a sinner and is from thenceforth so to be called man hauing his denomination of the more principall or of that which is in him predominant Euery one of these from the time of this new birth or regeneration and this great and admirable change and alteration giueth to God that which is his that is worship liuing holily towards God and to man that appertaineth to him liuing righteously towards him Euery one of these is carefull to performe all duties to their superiours equals and inferiours Neyther will they wrong their neighbour in his person goods or good name or doe that to another which they could not bee contented should be done to them When through humane frailty for the spirit being willing the flesh is weak they faile in any duty to God or man by eyther omitting the good they should do or committing the euill they are forbidden to doe then their hearts smites and wounds them for the same and they haue no peace within nor their wound healed and bound vp vntill both they haue obtained a pardon from God in Christ for that sinne and a setled purpose and full resolution neuer by the grace of God to commit it againe He that hath receiued the Spirit of God knoweth that these things I write be true Who seeth not that these are an holy people indeed and holy Priesthood as the Scrâ—pture calleth them These are Saints indeed though on earth By this holines thou mayest know thou art of the Church one of Gods elect and heire of saluation If this be begun in thee in truth though in great weaknesse then it is certaine that thou art one of this society Iohn 9.31 Iames 3.2 and shall all of them be Saints in heauen All other the Scripture calleth Sinners but not these though in many things they all of them sinne Is not this an holy and heauenly company on earth before they come to heauen Holy heere in part though they shall be perfectly holy without spot and wrinckle only in heauen whereinto this holy nation alone shall enter and no vncleane thing These are blessed and sweet companions for him that is iourneying from earth to heauen By how much
We account of all men next to the King his children most honorable and happy especially his sonne and heire that is to inherit the Kingdome Hereupon the seruants of Saul speaking thus to Dauid Behold 2. Sam. 18.23 the King hath a fauour vnto thee be now therefore the Kings sonne in law DAVID answered Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the Kings sonne in law seeing that I am a poore man and of small reputation What then may it seeme vnto vs who are but dust and ashes nay worse then so by nature the children of wrath and of the Diuell to become by grace the adopted children of God Ephes 2.3 Iohn 8.41.44 It is a matter of great honor and dignity to bee the sonne and heire of a Noble man specially of a King And is it not a much more glorious thing to be the sonne and heire of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings All men bestow and leaue vnto their children according to that themselues be and haue The meane man an inheritance or portion according to his abilitie be it more or lesse The Gentleman leaues to his children according to his estate and worth The noble-man after his and the King according to his greatnesse Euen so it is betwixt God and his children What and how great then shall be the portion and honor of these children seeing it shall be agreeable to the greatnesse of their heauenly Father and that which beseemeth the children of such a Father It must needs be such as neither eye hath sâ—ene nor eare hath heard nor euer came into mans heart in a word incomprehensibly glorious Because of this the estate of these in the world to come is not only called a glorious estate Rom. 8.18.21 and vers 17.30 1. Iohn 3.2 Phil. 3.21 and the glorioas liberty of the sons of God and they then said to be glorified and to be like vnto Christ partaking with him in glory both in soule and body their vile bodies being made like vnto his glorious body but is also inlarged thus that they shall then haue a most excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 To set forth also the excellent an glorious estate and condition of these in the world to come it is often said in the Scriptures that they shall haue a Kingdome Feare not little flocke Luke 12.32 for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a Kingdome Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poore in spirit for there is the Kingdome of heauen And to the same end it is called the kingdom of God and of heauen 1. Cor. 6.9 Heb. 12.28 2. Tim. 4.8 1. Cor. 9.25 Mat. 5.3 and said to be such as cannot be shaken On the heads of these Kings shall be set a crowne of righteousnesse yea an incorruptible crowne of glory Happy then and a thousand times happy are all of this Church and company that shall haue such and so glorious a kingdome whereof also there is no end but they shall raigne for euermore These 1. Pet. 1.4 2.1.11 howsoeuer they be not borne nor come by discent to this heauenly kingdome and inheritance Ephes 1.4.5 Act. 13.48 yet are they of God chosen and ordained thereunto before the foundation of the world was laid as appeareth by that sentence of Christ the Iudge of all men which he shall one day pronounce vpon them Come yee blessed of my Father Matth. 25.34 take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And therefore they who in their minoritie and nonage haue not yet receiued this inheritance and kingdome are as sure of it as if they were inthronized and in possession thereof Because as God himselfe so all things in God and namely this election of part of mankind vnto saluation is vnchangeable So that heauen and earth shall sooner passe away then any one of this chosen generation perish Are not they now happy who are sure to inherite this Kingdome albeit they yet haue it not What though in this world and for the present 1. Cor. 15.19 they bee of all men the most miserable yet neuerthelesse if we haue respect to their future estate Heb. 11.26 1. Pet. 1.4 to this great recompence of reward and inheritance immortall by the power of God reserued for them in heauen they are of all the children of men the most happy and those only who be happy all others being in a most accursed estate coÌ„dition And thus much concerning the Church or that we cal the Inuisible Church the knowledge whereof we referre to God the searcher of hearts proceed we now to entreate of the visible Church which men can know and discerne and is therefore called visible into which all they must retire themselues in this world that will be gathered with the inuisible Church into heauen in the world to come according to that saying Act. 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saued For this cause it standeth vs vpon diligently to search and enquire into this matter and so for thee Christian Reader to giue good eare to that which followeth CHAP. III. Of the visible Church and diuers acceptation of the word Church AS sometimes this word Church must be taken in that sence I haue already spoken of that is for all the elect or some speciall company of the elect as is manifest by the premises so in many other places of holy Scripture it cannot possibly be so vnderstood but must of necessity haue some other signification Verse 3. In the 8. of Acts Luke reporteth of Saul that he made hauocke of the Church And no lâ—sse doth the Apostle say of himselfe 1. Cor. 15.9 I am not meete to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God In these places and very many more by Church we cannot vnderstand the Elect except we will imagine eyther that Saul knew whom God had elected or that all bee elected who are persecuted both which are very false How then must wee vnderstand this word Church heere And what may we doe to finde out the true sence and meaning of this word in these and such other like places where it cannot be taken in the former signification Surely it may easily and and safely be done by conference of Scripture as we shall see Verse 3. In the 22. of the Acts Saint Paul hath these words of himselfe I was zealous towards God as yee all are this day vers 4. And I persecuted this way vnto the death binding and deliuering into prison both men and women And Galath 1. Thus he likewise speaketh of himselfe Vers 13. yee haue heard of my conuersation in times past in the Iewish religion how that I persecuted the Church of God extreamely and wasted it 14. And profited in the Iewish religion aboue many of my companions of my owne Nation and was much more
sunt imo bonis multo plures vt in eorum comparatione pauci sint cum per seipsos considerati in gentem numerum faciant August de vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 12. AVGVSTINE In the Church there be also euill men yea many more then good that the good compared with the euill are but a few though considered in themselues they make a very great number And b Greg. in Euang hom 38. Sancta Ecclesia bonos malos indiserete nunc suscipit c. Idem in expos motal lib. 13. cap. 4. Ecclesia intra sinum c. another thus The Church comprehendeth both good and bad and more bad oftentimes then good more goats then sheepe great store of cockle Reprobates without number And heere obserue we the difference betwixt the inuisible and visible Church The Inuisible is considered from the first elect vntill the last bringing all the Chosen of all ages into one body or society The Visible according to certaine places and times for as much as she is not visible vniuersally and all at once but according to times and in her parts The Inuisible containeth none but the good the c Matth. 3.12 and 13.25 Visible containeth both the good and the bad that only the elect this as well Reprobates as elect Chaffe as well as Corne Tares as well as Wheate yea more Reprobates then elect for Many are called but few are chosen The Inuisible Militant hath in it only the faithfull the Visible all that professe faith in Christ though many of them haue no better a faith then the Diuell In the Inuisible there bee many sheepe which are neuer gathered into the visible especially assembly or particular Congregation In the Visible a great many Goats and Wolues which shall neuer be receiued into the Inuisible Matth. 10.16 Behold I send you as sheepe in the middest of Wolues This is spoken of the visible Church which then did swarme with Wolues Matth. 3.7 and 23.33 Goats Serpents Vipers fat Bulls of Basan and other such like beasts This is carefully to be obserued against them of the Seperation By that which hath beene said it is manifest that a true visible Church consisteth of both kinds of Christians aforesaid of Christians true and false of Christians indeed and of Christians in name only no better indeed then rebels against God and blasphemers of him after whom they be called and is a confused and mixt company of Elect and Reprobates good and bad holy and prophane nay many times it is so ouerspread with wicked that the righteous can hardly bee discerned no more then the wheate that lieth all hid vnder the chaffe So that there is sometime a Church without any shew of it So was it in Eliah his time who though a Prophet 1. King 19.10.14.18 and therefore such as to whom the godly should haue beene knowne yet knew he not so much as one And this was then when the state of the Church was such that God could not be visibly serued any where but among his people Israel But of this we shall haue iust occasion to speake more hereafter These things being so what meane those men who sometime were of vs to condemne our Churches and publike assemblies for false Churches because of this mixture and for this cause chiefely to withdraw themselues from vs and our Assemblies It will not helpe them at all to say as they doe that many of our Congregations be knowne wicked as shall hereafter appeare CHAP. V. Of Religion what it is and how distinguished FVrthermore we are to remember that in our description of a true visible Church I doe not say that it is a company of people professing the pure Religion of God but a company professing true Religion For the better vnderstanding whereof and so what a true visible Church is we must know what Religion is and how it is distinguished Religion is the way or manner of worshipping God which men doe vse whether it be of the true God or a false god As it hath beene in all ages past euen so it is now Some Nations worship the true and liuing God which made heauen and earth who is blessed for euer and onely to be worshipped The people of other Nations worship false and fained gods some people worship after this another after that manner some one way some another way The Pagans and those we call Infidels haue their forme of worship such as the Diuell whom indeed they worship and the wit of man hath forged 1. Cor. 10.19.20 The Turkes worshippe God according to their fashion and way The Papists worship God Father Sonne and holy Ghost after their fashion And we called Protestants worship one and the same God in Trinitie after another manner This is that we call Religion and it is eyther true or false False Religion is when eyther a false or fained god is worshipped which in time past the Gentiles did and Infidels doe at this day or the true God is worshipped falsely not in some matters of circumstance only which may fall into them which worship God truly and be of the true Religion but in the very substance and body of worship Of a false Religion and false worshippers are not onely the Turkes which none but themselues deny but the Papists likewise which some men gain-say because their worship is not onely in matter of circumstance but in the substance false and not commanded in the Word True Religion is that Religion which teacheth the true way manner of worshipping God so as whosoeuer walketh in that way worshippeth God after that maner may be saued And it is eyther pure or corrupted Iames 1.27 Pure vndefiled Religion is when the externall worship of God is in all things such as the Word requireth both in the matter and maner of worship as wel in euery circūstance as in the substance Or that is pure Religion when God is worshipped in all things as hee hath appointed without adding any thing therto or taking any thing from it This is the Religion men should be of and this is the worshippe wee should giue to God But alas partly through the blindnes that is in man partly through his corruption otherwise it commeth seldom or neuer to passe that men attaine to this sincerity in Religion and worship After this purity notwithstanding we must striue at the height perfectiō of Religion worship if we cannot attaine vnto it let vs yet draw as neere it as may be knowing that by how much the nearer we approach thereunto by so much the better is our Religion and worship and by how much the further off we be remoued from it by so much it is the worse True Religion is then corrupted when the body and substance of Diuine worship remaining sound some thing or things notwithstanding be eyther wanting therein which God hath commanded or vsed which he hath not appointed or when both these
can or doth rightly professe Law or Gospell faith or repentance And what though many among vs yea the most bee dead in trespasses and sinnes Doth that hinder vs from being a true Church Bee ashamed of your grosse ignorance Know yee not that the greatest part of the visible Church are Reprobates as is manifest by this speech of our Lord Many are called Matth. 22.14 but few chosen and consequently dead in trespasses and sinnes Are not all naturall men dead in trespasses and sinnes The Apostle saith they be but all Reprobates are naturall not spirituall therefore all Reprobates are dead in trespasses and sinnes Is there any Reprobate who being dead to sinne is aliue to God In the twelfth Psalme Dauid because of the iniquity of that time complaineth and cryeth out to God after this manner Vers 1. Helpe Lord for there is not a godly man left And Isaiah thus Ah sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity c. And a little after Isa 1. v. 2.3.4 and vers 10. Heare the word of the Lord yee Princes of Sodome hearken yee people of Gomorrha Tell mee now Master Ainsworth whether the people of the Iewes in the dayes of these Prophets were dead in trespasses and sins and many hainous abominations and whether they did rightly professe the things you speake of I hope it may be as truely said of them as of vs that they professed not aright neyther Law nor Gospell neither repentance from dead workes nor faith in God and yet were they at the same time a true visible Church We therefore may be and are a true visible Church notwithstanding our people generally faile in the practise of that holy Religion we doe professe And thus much of the visible Church yea generally concerning the Church visible and inuisible wherein godly Reader if thou wilt take the paines to informe thy selfe throughly thou shalt not need to feare those rocks wheron others haue fallen and made shipwracke CHAP. VII That the Church of England is a true Church and our Parish assemblies true visible Churches WEE will now come to apply the aforesaid Doctrine of the visible Church to the people of Enâ—land in particular and thereby we will proue the Church of England to be a true Church against all gain-sayers Papists Brownists c. but especially against Brownists who only haue caused this Treatise of the Church against whom chiefely it is intended And this is the first vse wee will make of the said Doctrine The Brownists euery where in their bookes with open mouth affirme that our Church is a false Church and our particular Congregations or Parish assemblies false visible Churches To take away this vile report and euill name which they haue brought vpon vs the people of God I will reason against them and proue the contrary first generally and then particularly Generally thus Whatsoeuer People or Nation is within the daily voice and call of God calling vpon them to repent and beleeue that so they may be saued the same is a true visible Church But the people generally of England are within the voice and call of God daily calling vpon them to repent and beleeue that they may be saued Therefoâ—e the people of England are a true visible Church The Proposition and first part of this Argument is proued by the speech of Christ Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few chosen by the first part whereof Many are called is meant the visible Church and by the latter contained in these words but few are chosen those of the inuisible Church that are in the visible All that liue vnder the voice and call of God that is who submit themselues vnto the Ministery of the Word and doe heare it whereby God calleth vpon them by his seruants the Ministers that they would repent and beleeue and so be saued all these I say are the visible Church among which saith Chrâ—st few are of the Elect and Church inuisible This is the meaning of our Lord in these words As that people which hath not this externall calling by the Word is not a visible Church or so much as within the visible Church but without as Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 5.12 What haue I to doe to iudge them that are without So that people which hath the externall calling whom God vouchsafeth to call vpon to be saued and outwardly submit themselues therunto albeit few of them be effectually called and haue the internall calling is a visible Church Against the Assumption or second part of this Argument there lieth no exception it being true that our Pastors and Teachers are true Ministers euen the Ministers of Christ and disposers of the secrets of God which as some of the learned among vs of late haue proued to the stopping of your mouthes though neuer so wide so God himselfe by the calling and conuersion of many among vs 1. Cor. 9.1.2.3 doth confirme and thereto from heauen set a scale and therefore it mattereth not though a thousand foolâ—sh men on earth doe deny the same From the latter description of a visible Church That it is a company of people enioying and submitting themselues to the true worshippe of God I argue yet further for our Church Whatsoeuer people doe enioy and outwardly submit themselues to the true worshippe of God they are a true visible Church But the people of England doe enioy and outwardly submit themselues to the true worship of God Therefore the people of England are a true visible Church The Proposition hath sufficient confirmation from the aforesaid description of the visible Church and needeth not to be strengthened any further besides you will not I know deny it and therefore in vaine it were to vse many words about it The Assumption you will and must needes deny that our diuine worship is true worship For if our worshippe be true worship then is our Church a true Church This you know full well Hereupon you as confidently affirme that our worship is false as that our Church is a false Church Counterpoys 209. Should we say quoth Master Ainsworth that a visible Church is a people that falsely worship Christ Indeed if so we held we might well returne to their Church of England for there is false worship more then enough If we can proue now that our worship is true worship then and thereby it will be manifest that our Church is a true Church and so the foundation of your building will not only be shaken but vtterly ouerthrowne and fall to the ground consequently the whole building That the worship we enioy and giue vnto God is true worship I thus proue If such as both in their life time and at their death serued God with the very same worship as wee doe haue in that worship beene saued then is the worship wee now haue true diuine worship But the first is true Therefore the second Both the Proposition and Assumption of this Argument will be made
pretend then thus farre you had rightly described the Church For no man can be ordinarily religious indeede except as you speake here hee first be called by the Word of God Here the counsell perswasion commandement and threat of man will not auaile No humaine force and compulsion will serue the turne it must be diuine and from God whereof we reade Luke 14.23 Salomons song 13. Iohn 6.4 Act. 16.14 Compell them to come in God himselfe by the Ministerie and preaching of the Word his Spirit accompanying the same must perswade and draw else we hang backward and continue still irreligeous and prophane as we see in the example of Lydia whose heart the Lord opened that she attended vnto the things which Paul spake Neither can we without this calling by the Word be assured that wee are of the inuisible Church This is that we call the internall and effectuall Calling and is proper to the inuisible Church All that haue this calling may assure themselues of their election and saluation This the Apostle confirmeth Rom. 8.30 11.29 and of this calling speaketh where he saith Whom he predestinated them also he called and whom hee called them also be iustified and whom he iustified them he also glorified And againe the gifts and calling of God are without repentance And thus are all of the inuisible Church called in their appointed time But concerning the visible Church this calling by the Word is not necessarie so that without it we cannot come to be of this fellowship Which we cannot chuse but see if we call to minde that which we haue beene taught That a visible Church is a company professing true religion To ioyne in which outward profession whereby we become members of the visible Church one may be drawne by the commandement threat counsell and perswasion of man the Word of God neuer comming neare his heart And so I leaue the first part of your description and proceede to examine that which therein followeth A visible Church say you is a company of people seperated from the world This doe we also hold and teach rightly vnderstood that is touching their professioÌ„ of the true religion and so are we seperated from Heathens Infidels Turkes Papists Anabaptists c. But thus you vnderstand not these words you meane hereby that a visible Church is a company of faithfull and righteous men onely or Saints not mixed with but seperated from the open wicked of the world That this is your meaning it is plaine by your owne Treatises as forthwith we shall heare and namely where you say Defence of the Churches and Ministers of England 71. that a visible Church is a seperated company of Righteous men from the open wicked of the world and cannot consist of all sorts of people good and bad And for the proofe of this point and part of your description you send vs to Iohn 17.14 I haue giuen them thy word Apologie 44. Marke here their peruerting of Scripture to the end of this Section and the three next following and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world Whosoeuer shall aduisedly reade this Chapter may easily see that these words are meant of the eleuen Apostles being parcell of that part of Christs prayer hee made for them in particular That Iesus speaketh here of his elect Apostles it is manifest both by the words going before this 14. verse and specially by verse 12. as also by the verses following after and namely by verse 18. and 20. what is this at all then to purpose Surely no more for the proofe of the point then if you had produced the first words of Genes In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth Frame your Argument and the vanitie of your proofe will appeare If that the Apostles members of visible Churches were separated from the world then all the members of a visible Church must bee separated from the world But the first is true Therefore the second To this effect you must marke your Argument or none at all Giue mee leaue now to argue after the same manner If the Apostles members of visible Churches were preachers of the word and had the gift of miracles then euery member of the visible Church must be a preacher of the word and haue the gift of miracles But the first is true therefore the second Thus could I proue that the members of visible Churches must haue no certaine abiding place but goe from place to place â—rom one countrey to another throughout the world for the Apostles did so Therefore in vaine is this testimonie alledâ—ed by you and you therein take Gods name in vaine I doe not deny but that many things spoken of or to the Apostles or required to be in them are likewise required and happily found in euery member of the visible Church The Apostle prayed and heard the word so it may bee doe all the members of the visible Church Some of the Apostles Iesus commanded that they should fast and pray lest they did enter into temptation the same he requireth of all in the Church But this is it I say and meane That it followeth not necessarily that because this or that qualitie or gift was or ought to be in the Apostles therefore it is and ought to bee in euery member of the visible Church But happily you will not vnderstand this scripture of the eleuen Apostles but extend it further Seeing by the Text it is euident that Christ spake and meant it onely of them without falsifying the Text you cannot stretch it an haire breadth further But suppose the words might be vnderstood more largely the vtmost extent must be to the Elect. First because Iesus speaketh of them for whom he prayed and these be onely the Elect. Secondly hee speaketh of those which are hated of the world and of such as being in the world are not of the world and such alone bee the Elect. Now this maketh not at all for you no more then the former For what though the Elect which are in the visible Church be separated from the world which is true as Christ here meaneth doth it therevpon follow that all in the visible Church are separated from the world Iudge your selues So one may proue that all of the visible Church shall be saued because the Elect which be in the visible Church are heyres of Saluation Another fault which in alleadging this Scripture you commit is this that you mis-vnderstand these words of our Sauiour are not of the world whereby he meaneth not separated from the world in your sence that is from the open wicked in the world but that his Apostles were not worldly indeede louing the things of the world or that they were such as would not conforme and fashion themselues to the manners and customes of this world would not follow this world as worldly minded men doe in that which is euill
onely erect and build further vpon that which they haue laid These discreete priuate men they alone are fathers begetting men to the faith and as for the Ministers they are but nurses to giue sucke nourish and bring vp men in it Thus you doe not onely crosse this Scripture and ordinance of Christ who hath perpetually appointed Pastors and Teachers in the Church to the aboue-named ends but doe also hereby prefer priuate mens teachings aboue Ministers For is it not a matter of great power and excellencie to conuert men vnto God then to confirme them that be conuerted and to beget men to the faith then to nourish them that are begotten Consider what I say and the Lord open your eyes that you may see your errour But leauing this hearken what further reasons we haue against your description of Saints and matter of the visible Church Thirdly I haue in the former Chapter shewed that many haue been members of the visible Church that haue wanted externall holinesse yea being outwardly and openly prophane this to a wise man may suffice for the confutation of this description yea of all that you teach concerning both the matter and forme of the visible Church Cain Ismael Esau Saul Doeg Ioab Absalom Iudas the Scribes and Pharises were all of the visible Church and yet not thus qualified Nay as contrary to these Saints as darknesse to light and as farre from this sanctimonie as heauen is from earth Such Saints then as you speake of are not the matter of the visible Church For then the aforesaid persons were not of the visible Church seeing they were not such matter which I trust you will not affirme And if such vvicked and abominable men as these openly and apparantly wicked were matter of the visible Church and vvere Saints to wit by calling or by profession which kinde of Saint-ship sufficeth to make men members of the visible Church how do you truely affirme That all Saints are men seperated from all knowne sinne doing all the knowne will of God growing in grace and continuing to the end and that such are the onely matter of the visible Church And with what truth doe you teach that all the members of the visible Church haue been are and of necessitie must be outwardly holy hauing an externall righteousnesse for which cause they bee called Saints so as if men bee not thus qualified they are not true matter neither of nor in the Church But proceede wee now from the Church of the Iewes vnder the Law to the Churches of the Gentiles vnder the Gospel and specially to the primatiue and purest Churches that haue been which you thinke are so cleere for you and against vs as nothing can bee more cleere and euident In the Church of Corinth there were many very corrupt men some in iudgement others in manners and conuersation or in both To omit diuers of their errours some held a 1. Cor. 6.12.13 fornication to be lawfull or a thing indifferent as to eate or to drinke others that which was farre worse and more dangerous that b 1. Cor. 12.20 there was no resurrection which caused the Apostle by many reasons to proue it In the same Church there was great c 2. Cor. 12.20 1. Cor. 1.11 3.3 strife enuying wrath contentions back bitings whisperings swellings discord and as about other things so namely their Ministers some depending of one some of other some despising all did call themselues the Disciples of Christ and would heare none In it there were diuers whom Paul not onely calleth d 1. Cor. 3.3 carnall but by some vvorkes of the flesh vvherevnto they were giuen proueth to be carnall and to walke as men that is to liue as those who be more naturall men not hauing the spirit In the same Church there were not onely that e 1. Cor. 6.1.6.8 went to Law together a brother I say with a brother and that vnder vniust and infidell Iudges but that did wrong and harme euen to their brethren In it there were which liued f 2. Cor. 12.21 in vncleannes and fornication wantonnes yea there could not but be many sornicators considering they held fornication to be no sinne from whence it is that Paul vseth g 1. Cor. 6.13 sundry forcible reasons to dehort them from this sin and those words chap. 5.9 I wrote vnto you in an Epistle that yee should not company together with fornicators and least they should mistake him he telleth theÌ„ that he meaneth not this of them that were without the church the Infidels but of the fornicators that were in the church that professed the Chris Relig Nay ther was h 1. Cor. 5.1 such fornication among theÌ„ as was not once named or heard of among the Gentiles that one should haue his fathers wise And that which is more the delinquent for so haynous a sin was not at all censured yea they were not so much as sorry at so great a scandall in the Church but this notwithstanding whatsoeuer things besides were amisse in their Church they were puffed vp and reioyed as though all were well and nothing amisse There were in this Church that went to the Lords table i 1. Cor. 11.17.18.21.29.30 not to their profit but to their hurt eating and drinking vnworthily not discerning the Lords body and so did eate and drinke their owne iudgement by reason of the discentions among them they would not tarie one for another and some being drunke went to the Lords Supper In it there were also that called k 1. Cor. 9.1.2.3 the Apostle his office into question despised and disgraced both him and his preaching saying That howsoeuer l 2. Cor. 10.1.10 11.6 he being absent was very bold in his letters yet when hee was present and among them he was base his bodily presence weake and his speech of no value nay ruder in speaking And thus they preferred their vaine-glorious and eloquent teachers and their Ministers who m 2. Cor. 2.1.4 came vnto them with axcellency of words and in the intising speech of mans wisedome more like orators then Preachers of the Gospell aboue the holy Apostle and his heauenly ministerie Moreouer in this Church there were that accused S. Paul of pillage and to be a craftie and subtile man that howsoeuer he did not openly take wages and charge them yet sor as much n 2. Cor. 12.16.17 he was craftie he tooke some secretly and by guilc Did I pil you saith the Apo by any of them whom I sent vnto you as I am accused to haue done Thus there were in the Church of Corinth who did not onely deny S. Paul to bee an Apostle debase his preaching but that did besides touching his â—fe and conuersation slaunder him and take away his good name as much as in them lay In the churches of Galatia there were diuers false Apostles who taught the rightâ—ousnesse of workes that man is â—ot iustified
head thereof for it is written Counterp 127. God hath appointed him ouer all things the head of the Church which is his body Ephes 1 22.2â— and againe to the Church of Corinth it is said Ye are the bodie of Christ 1. Cor. 12.27 But the Church of England is not the body of Christ neither hath him for the head thereof Therefore the Church of England is not a true Church This Argument M. Smith likewise vseth against our Churches and Particular Congregations Your Parish assemblies haue not Christ for their head Ergo they be false churches Paralleles 87. Ephe. 1.22.23 1. Cor. 12.27 Gal. 3.16 Ephes 5.23 Wee answere that these and all other places of holy writ wherein Christ is said to bee the head of the Church or the Church is said to be his body that by Church wee are to vnderstand that societiee we call the inuisible Church or company of beleeuers which be a part therof or if in any of them we may vnderstand the vis Church it must needs be spoken in respect of them therein that are of the inuisible Church which commeth all to one And thus Christ Iesus is the head of the church of England and it is his body and so your Assumption is false Surely it is admirable that all of you are so farre blinded as to teach that a Confession of faith 10. 52. 58. 68. Apologie 44. Communion of Saints 6. 455. 475. Description of the vis church pag. 1. The visible Church is the body of Christ and that without any limitation exception respâ—ct or restraine For shew mee one line in all your bookes tending this way And heere behold the absurditie of your Proposition Euery true Church is the body of Christ meaning euery true particular visible Church or congregation wherevpon followeth that how many particular Churches there be so many bodies of Christ and so you make a monster of Christ But how monstrous soeuer this is you wil proue it and that by Scripture For it is written say you God hath appointed Christ ouer all things the head of the Church which is his body Ephes 1.22.23 I answere You speake of euery particular visible Church and the Apostle here of the inuisible Church which is Catholicke or vniuersall part whereof is now in heauen and part on earth as verse 10. For confirmation whereof also serue these words verse 22. God hath appointed him ouer all things How maketh this Scripture then any thing for you The inuisible Church and company of the Elect is the body of Christ Your proposition is Euery true particular visible Church is the body of Christ These are different propositions and euery babe may see the former of these is no proofe of the latter and that the former being true this latter may notwithstanding be false That this Scripture is to bee vnderstood of the inuisible Church it is manifest by that hath been said Also by the words next following in verse 23. which is his body euen the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things Whereby we learne that without the Church here spoken of Christ Iesus doth not account himselfe full perfect and entire but as it were maimed euen as a head without a body Such is his loue to this church and high account of it But this fulnesse to Christ doth the inuisible Church bring Of the inuisible church therefore doth the Apostle here speake And marke how neither of the first words of your Proposition are vsed here by Paul He saith not euery Church as you doe which might seeme to haue implyed that he had spoken of the vis Church or Churches nor true Church which had made it cleare on your side For true cannot fitly be said of the inuisible Church forasmuch as there is no false inuisible Church Onely the word Church he vseth without any such addition which word in holy writ is indifferently vsed for the inuisible and visible Church as before I haue shewed and here for the inuisible as the reasons aforesaide doe manifest This Scripture therefore is preuerted by you and maketh nothing for you But bee it graunted that Paul speakes here of the visible Church and that there is no abuse of Scripture at least that if not here yet 1. Cor. 12.27 he speaketh of the Church visible yet neither will that helpe you seeing the visible Church cannot bee saide to bee the Body of Christ but in respect of the Elect that are in the visible church now this will not profit you at all for to vnderstand these Scriptures of the visible Church as you will haue it marke how your argument must be framed Euery true visible Church is the body of Christ and hath him for the head thereof in respect of the Elect therein The Church of England is not the Body of Christ neither hath him for the head thereof in respect of the Elect therein Therefore the Church of England is not a true visible Church Thus your argument should haue beene composed and what is wanting is to bee vndeâ—stood and then wee answere you by denying your assumption and doe affirme that the Church of England is the body of Christ and hath him for the head thereof in respect of Gods elect that be in it And in this sence also as well as in the former the same may be said of vs that Paule saide of the Corinthians Yee are the body of Christ and members for your part And here I cannot chuse but wonder at the extreâ—me folly of this maâ— Who prouing that the Church of England is not the body of Christ neither hath him for the head thereof whereas he should direct his speech against the goâ—ly among vs and prooue thaâ— they are not the Body of Christ nor haue him for their head in steaâ— thereof he doth direct it to vse his owne words to our prophane people Counterp 128 mockers and contemners of Religion that blaspheame God and his holy name euen in the stretes as they walke such as call themselues the damned crewe Familists Atheists and all other sorts of miscreants and wicked liuers These children of wrath saith he this sinfull generation cannot possibly be members of the Body of Christ nor haue him for their head seeing they are not partakers of his life and spirit nor called to his faith neither admitteth he any such vnto him vntill they repent he hath no concord with Belial therefore not with the children of Belial the members of his glorious body must not be the dead stinking and abhominable members of Sathan Light and darkenesse heauen and hell will as soone bee vnited together And in this path doe tâ—ey all tread Thus can I prooue that the church of the Iewes as in other ages so namely in Dauids time and in Isaiah his time was a false Church for as much as the Iewes then were a prophane people Isa 2 3â— mockers and contemners of Religion c. Of the
and inuisible church onely as is plaine by those two testimonies your selfe quote in the margent Ioh. 8.32 Reu. 1.6 The elect therefore and inuisible Church onely haue Christ for their King Secondly Their King Christ Iesus is who abstaine from errour false-worship and all other euill whatsoeuer deliuering thus their owne soules But the elect and inuisible Church onely abstaine from euery euill way and deliuer their owne soules Therefore the elect onely haue Christ Iesus for their King Thirdly They onely are the people and subiects of Christ and haue him for their King for whom hee hath subdued Sathan and sinne and whom he hath redeemed out of all Satanean bondage that sinne should reigne no more ouer them But Christ hath subdued Sathan and sinne onely for the elect and invisible Church and them alone hath he redeemed out of all Satanean bondage that sinne should reigne no more ouer them Therefore the elect and inuisible Church onely are the people and subiects of Christ and haue him for their King Thus what you build with the one hand you put downe apase with the other Ephes 4.8.11 Heb. 3.6 Yet do not I deny that Christ hath appointed the offices and officers and giuen lawes to the vis church by and according to which only it ought to be gouerned that in thâ—s respect he is the onely King thereof Also Mat. 28.18 Reu. 17.14 in that all power is giuen vnto him in heauen and in earth and is King of the whole earth being King of Kings thus likewise hee is King of the visible church And as King hee defendeth it from the enemies thereof for his own glory and name that is called vpon them for his elect sake that are among them And lastly in this respect he is also King of the visible church that these rebels and enemies of his that will not suffer him to reigne ouer them neither regard his lawes and statutes he will take vengeance of them and destroy them Thus I acknowledge our Lord is King of the visible church but not so a he is King to them to whom he is Priest and Prophet as you doe affirme Come we now to the second part of the aforesaid proposit on Counterp 141. and to M. Ainsworth his 4. argument Euery true visible Church hath Christ for the Priest of the same The vis Church of England hath not Christ for the Priest of the sâ—me Therefore the Church of England is not a true visible Church I deâ—y your proposition which to be false I doe thus make manifest If Christ Iesus be the Priest of the visible Church then Christ died for the vâ—sible church and maketh intercession for all of that societie for doubtlesse hee performed all the parts of his Priesthood for them to whom he is a Priest If Christ now died for the visible church then all of the visible church shal be saued and none of them damned for Christs death shall be effectual to saue all those from perdition for whom he died Who shall condemne saith the Apostle It is Christ which is dead Rom. 8.34 Intimating that none of those can possibly be damned for whom Christ died Now the aforesaide inference is false seeing there be many reprobates of the visible church for which Christ neither dyed nor maketh intercession and therefore is that false from whence it is inferred deduced Nay I will disproue this by your owne words In the 32. p. of your confession of faith thus you write Touching his Priesthood Christ hath appeared once to put away sinne by the offering of himselfe and to this ende hath fully performed and suffred all those things by which God might be reconciled to his Elect. From hence I reason thus If Christ in that he was a Priest hath by the oblation of himselfe taken away the sinne of the Elect onely and reconciled vnto God onely the Elect then is hee the Priest onely of the Elect or inuisible church But Christ in that hee was a Priest hath by the oblation of himselfe taken away the sinne of the Elect onely and reconciled to God onely the Elect Therfore Christ Iesus is the Priest only of the Elect or church inuissible and by consequent not of the vissible church as you affirme The Proposition is so cleere in it selfe that it needes no proofe The Assumption is prooued by your owne confession Though you doe not vse this word onely yet must it necâ—ssarilie bee vnderstood This your selfe also M. Ainsworth doe further confirme Counterp 141. The Church of England say you hath not Christ for the Priest or Sacrificer of the same Because the gifts and sacrifices which it offereth vnto God are not presented and offered vnto him by Christ neither is this Church reconciled vnto God by him from hence also I argue thus Whose spirituall sacrifices Christ doth present and offer vnto his father their priest he is But the spirâ—tual sacrifices of the elect and inuisible church onely doth Christ present and offer vnto his Father Therefore Christ is the Priest of the elect and inuisible church onely Agaiâ—e To proue that Christ is the prophet of the inuisible church this in a word may suffice To what societ e soeuer he is king aâ—d priest to the same hee is a prophet But to the inuisible church onely he is a king and priest Therefore a prophet the Proposition needes no proofe The Assumption hath alreadie beene prooued This likewise may be coâ—firmed by your own lines and therefore I may well be sparing of mine Counterp 139. Moreouer the church of England wanteth part and communion with Christ in that propheticall office which he hath imparted to his people namely power and freedome to witnesse professe practise and holde forth the word of life and all that Christ hath commaunded And therefore concludeth he The church of England hath not Christ for the prophet thereof from hence I reason thus To that church or company of men whatsoeuer which hath power and freedome to witnesse professe practise and hould forth the word of life and all that Christ hath commanded to them onely is Christ a prophet But this power and freedome hath the inuisible church onely Therefore of the inuis church onely is Christ a Prophet The proposition is your own The assumption is very cleare for though all of the visible church and many reprobates haue power to professe yet onely the Elect haue the abilitie to practise the word of God and to obserue all that Christ hath commanded that is earnestly endeauor to obsâ—rue and keepe the coÌ„mandements of God Christ in all things which is that we call euangelicall obedience This obedience wherof our Lord speaketh Mat. 28.20 Teaching theÌ„ to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you is proper I say to the elect and cannot fall into any reprobate But these words of Iesus you vnderstand of the politie of the church and being generall you restraine to all things